Our Team

Meet the Faces of Ciao Tours

Arlene Schroh - Director (Calgary, Canada)

Thank you for choosing Ciao Tours for your next Italian vacation. As one of the owners of Ciao Tours based in Canada, I am dedicated to making sure that we create a unique, customized tour of Italy that is completely tailored to you! I spend half of my time in Italy scouting out the next great restaurant, or the newest family ran Agritourism. The other half of my time is spent in Canada with my husband and 2 children. My training in the tourism industry started at the historical Banff Springs Hotel, Banff, Alberta where I learned that hospitality must be a part of your soul, not just an ideology. Hospitality in Italy is truly genuine because you become one of the family.

Laura Pozzi - Italian Director (Siena, Italy)

We had a desire to start a company based on our personal philosophy about customer service. I love my country. I want you to experience and embrace “my” Tuscany. To introduce you to the local food markets, my friends and their award winning wines, not shown on a tour bus. We follow your ideas to the realization and we share your wishes. I am passionate about cooking and love to entertain. I am here in Italy waiting to greet you!

Cristina Terzarede - Marketing Manager (Siena, Italy)

I am part of Ciao Tours since 2012. I moved to Calgary in 2011 to follow my husband, who is working for an Italian Oil & Gas Company and we moved back to Italy on July 2015. We have two kids, Francesco who is 8 and Margherita, 5. I’m from the center of Italy (split between Umbria and Marche), as a student I attended the University in Venice (where I got my degree in languages German-English) and I have a Marketing and Communication background (I worked 8 years for an important Italian Publisher). In Calgary I was part of the sales department and now I’m following all the communication and marketing for Ciao Tours, especially as a social media manager. I really love my country, social media and photography and working with Ciao Tours allows me to use all my passions at once!

Romina Torta - Italian Custom Tour Designer (Calgary, Canada)

Born and raised in Italy. The Italian region I come from is Piemonte, in the North West of Italy. This region is well-known for the Langhe, an area that is very dear to me and famous for its wines, truffles, cheeses, and ancient hillside towns. I was lucky enough to be born and have lived in a town that is only about 20 km away from it. I have my university education in languages (French and German) and second language teaching. In 2009, I move to Calgary with my husband who works as a teacher. We also have a little daughter, Giada. After few years spent teaching Italian at the University of Calgary, I have finally joined the amazing Team of Ciao Tours. Italy is still in my heart and I am so grateful to Ciao Tours allowing me to keep my passion for Italy alive and help people appreciate the variety and resources of my beautiful home country

Anna Maria Scavo - Executive Admin (Calgary, Canada)

As a Italian Canadian, I bring the best out in both cultures to Ciao Tours! As a 1st generation Canadian, my genitori (parents) who immigrated from Calabria to Canada, I was immersed into the new countries ways but never forgetting the old country. After 25 years at the Bank of Montreal, I retired and now have time to enjoy my true passion of travel. My role with Ciao Tours provides me with the opportunity to share my country with our clients. I feel like I am traveling with them while I organize their personalized detailed itineraries.

Claudia Tortorelli -Senior Italian Tour Manager (Siena, italy)

I live in Siena, Tuscany, and I take care of Ciao Tours’ clients while they are in Italy. I got a degree in foreign languages at the University of Florence and I have taught English and Spanish at Middle Schools for a while. I have always loved traveling but, since I’m mother of four children, I haven’t always got the time to do it personally. For this reason I love “following” our clients all around Italy and, in my fantasy, I accompany them in their adventure. And, of course I’m completely satisfied when they leave Italy with an unforgettable memory of their journey.

Didi Nota - Italian Tour Manager (Siena, Italy)

Just like Claudia, I live in Siena, Tuscany with my family and I enjoy taking special care of our clients. We want to welcome you to Italy and be of assistance without being intrusive. After getting an associates degree in languages in Boston, Mass, where I was born and grew up, I followed my dream to spend a year in Italy. That was over 35 years ago and I’m still here! I often return to North America to visit family and friends but my home is in Tuscany.

Alessandra Caturelli - Italian Tour Manager (Siena, Italy)

I am the newest member of the Ciao Tours Team, however; I am also one of it’s oldest members! I have worked with Ciao Tours in Siena, Italy for over 6 years providing Private Wine Tastings to their clients through my previous employer Aimone Piazzi, who is an amazing sommelier and dear friend to us all. I have changed my direction from Wine Tastings to working with Ciao Tours’ clients in all aspects of their tour in Italy. After all these years seeing Ciao Tours dedication to their clients, I wanted to be more a part of this team of professional women and to highlight my knowledge of wine. Along with my 4 year old daughter and husband, we look forward to welcoming you to my country!

Yvonne Thompson - Senior Accountant (Calgary, Canada)

As the Senior Accountant of Ciao Tours, my department is responsible for providing our clients with accurate and reliable accounting documents. Because of our accounting policies, Ciao Tours has an outstanding reputation with all of our suppliers and is considered a preferred Tour Operator in Italy.From Italian cooking to the intrigue of a country steeped in ancient history; along with the world renowned hospitality of it’s open hearted people, I enjoy my work with Ciao Tours. I am a travel “junkie” and look forward to assisting you on your own travel adventures into the heart of Italy.

Accounting Department Beliefs

Making sure you get the best exchange rate and value for your dollar is our primary goal at Ciao Tours. Ciao Tours is one of the only Tour Companies in North America that sells in Euro Dollar. We believe that our clients are educated and understand the fluctuation of exchange rates, and have saved our clients a lot of money by allowing them to “lock in” the exchange rate when they feel the time is right.

Born and raised in Italy. I am from Calabria, a sunny and warm region all year round facing the Mediterranean sea. This region is well known for its famous beaches which are attracting lots of tourist especially during spring and summer time. Calabria is famous for hunting truffles, and for producing licorice liquors , for its local wines and also for the production and distribution worldwide of hot chilly pepper. I have my Education in Humanities and my Master Degree in second language teaching. I moved to Canada in 2012, to share my new life with my Canadian husband. After been teaching for the last 5 years, I joined last year the amazing Team of Ciao Tours. Italy is always in my heart, and I am so thankful to Ciao Tours allowing me to be in touch with home country by helping our clients for their holidays and spending them in a such wonderful place.

Cristina TerzaredeMarketing Manager

Chiama Oggi! (Call Today)
For more information on our Tours of Italy, or to book one of our Escorted Tours, Custom Tours, and/or Private Tours, call us today at 1 (877) 444-CIAO (2426) to speak to one of our tour designers or email us at info@ciaotours.com for a no obligation proposal that will be delivered to you in 24 hours!

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